The Singalila ridge trek : Sandakphu

The Singalila ridge trek

Sandakphu .

Trek along with Mt. Everest, Kanchenjunga, Makalu, Lhotse and a grand Himalayan panorama of more than 20 other peaks. Swing along the border trails between India and Nepal. Walk through the clouds and rhododendron forest, in the Singalila National Park, to climb Sandakphu, the highest peak of West Bengal. At 3636 meters, this is not only the best trek for a beginner, but also stands out from lots of other treks in the Himalayas in terms of views and experience it has to offer.

Of course you will have to make an effort and trek uphill to experience this ‘top of the world’ feeling but we assure you it is definitely worth all the effort.

Sandakphu or Sandakfu or Sandakpur (3636 m; 11,941 ft) is the highest peak in the state of West Bengal, India. It is the highest point of the Singalila Ridge in Darjeeling district on the West Bengal-Nepal border. The peak is located at the edge of the Singalila National Park and has a small village on the summit with a few hostels. Four of the five highest peaks in the world, Everest, Kangchenjunga, Lhotse and Makalu can be seen from its summit.

From Sandakphu, the best view of the mountain Kangchenjunga is possible, which is called as the Sleeping Buddha or the Sleeping Shiva.

The trek along the Singalila Ridge to Sandakphu is one of the most popular ones in the Eastern Himalayas, due to the grand views of the Kangchenjunga range and the Everest range which can be seen from the ridge. This trekking route is also famous for the seasonal wildflower blooms.

Highlights of the trek :

Complimentary stay at Darjeeling & Rimbick ( 1 night each *)

Tea house trek

About Singalila National Park

The Singalila National Park, located in Darjeeling district of West Bengal covers an area of 78 km and has an altitudinal range of 2,400-3,650 metres. The National Park shares a natural boundary with Nepal on the west and with Sikkim on the north. The international border between India and Nepal is identified by a 52 km road running from Phalut (3,650 m) down to Manebhanjyang (1,920 m).The National Park is an Important Bird Area and an IUCN Category IIProtected Area.

The Singalila area in Darjeeling was purchased by the British Government from Sibbim Durbar in 1882, and notified a Reserve Forest under the Indian Forest Act 1878. It was notified as a National Parb in 1992 and was also officially opened up for tourism.

Darjeeling Himalaya is very rich in plant life and is estimated to have about 2,900 species of angiosperms (Das 2011). Singalila National Park has a large number of flowering ground flora of which the Primulas,Aconites, Asters, Arisaema, Meconopsis, Cotoneasters, Geraniums are predominant.

Rhododendrons are regarded by many as the best flowering evergreen plants in the temperate landscape. Sir Joseph Hooker,the famous naturalist discovered 25 new species of rhododendrons in the Himalayas. Singalila National Park has 18 recorded species of rhododendrons.

Singalila National Park has a record of 350 species of birds.
Singalila National Park with its diverse habitats supports a rich community of birds ranging from small sized birds like warblers, sunbirds and flowerpeckers to the relatively larger sized species like Raptors, Magpies, Jays and Thrushes.

Day 1- Arrive in Darjeeling

You will be picked up by our representative from Bagdogra airport and transfer to hotel in Darjeeling. Evening free to take acclimatisation walks in Darjeeling.
Overnight in Hotel.

2

Day 2 - Darjeeling -Manebhanjang - Tonglu/Tumling trek

Wake up early (around 5:30 – 6 am) and reach Manebhanjang. Your trek should start early in order to have a fulfilling adventure tour and panoramic grandeur. This little village is 58km from Darjeeling i.e about 1.5 hours ride and is inhabited by modest village dwellers of the Bhuddhist Sherpa tribe. (If you are a foreign traveller, you will need to make some entries at the Immigration Check Post here). Have some breakfast before starting the trek. Today you will hike up to Tonglu (3070 m), it is 11 km from Manebhanjang and will take you about 5-6 hours to reach. Enroute you shall pass through pine, fir, birch, bamboo glades and reach another tiny Buddhist settlement, Chitre (2530 m). This will be a quite steep uphill climb on a stoned pathway. Crossing Chitre you shall reach a small hamlet Meghma (2900m). You can take a break here and have some local lunch. Don’t forget to interact with the friendly villagers before resuming your trek. You will have two choices now to halt – either at Tonglu or Tumling as the route will bifurcate here which meets again at Tumling. If you want a good view of the mountains then head to Tonglu, just 2 km from here, which commands an excellent view of the entire Himalayan Mountains. If you halt in Tumling then in clear nights you would see dazzling night-lights of Darjeeling, Kurseong, Pasupati town and Siliguri. You can camp here overnight or stay at a homestay, both the options are available.

3

Day 3 - Tonglu -Gairibas - Kalipokhari Trek

Try and wake up early to witness the magical golden sunrise behind the Himalaya Range. It will be a rewarding day today as you will enter the famous Singalila National Park (declared Indian National Park in 1992) and discover some exotic plants of the mountain and perhaps even spot a red panda. After breakfast you will begin your easy downhill trek to Garribas (2621 m). This small village is approximately 9km from Tonglu and will take you around 3 hours to reach. Enroute you will pass through the simpler walks of life, a quaint hamlet, their modest farmlands and lots of bamboo glades. You should have lunch at Gairibas and then gear up for a continuous uphill climb to Kalipokhari (3170 m). This is 6km form Gairibas which should take you around 3 hours of hike. If you are trekking in springtime then you will love this hike because you will pass though the blooming forest of rhododendron. At Kalipokhari (Black Lake) as the name suggests you shall find a small dark colored lake amidst pine tress and fluttering prayer flags. Here you also have the option of taking a 2hr jeep ride form Tonglu in case you feel tired (the jeep needs to be organized at Manebhanjang). You could halt overnight in Kalipokhri at a homestay or tent.

4

Day 4 - Kalipokhari - Sandakphu Trek

Wake up early in the morning and gear up for the day. Sandakphu, the highlight of the entire Singalila Trekking route also called the ‘paradise of trekkers’ shall be yours today. Sandakphu (3636 m) commands an expansive 360-degree view from the top and a spectacular vista of the entire Himalayan belt. The towering pinnacles in Nepal – Mt. Everest, Lotse, Makalu and Sikkim’s Mt. Kanchenjunga and Mt. Pandim all appear at the horizon in a continuous arc. The foreground valley is surrounded by hills covered with rhododendrons and silver fir trees. But to reach this awesome place you should start early from Kalipokhari. The ridge trail descends till Bikhebhanjang (Valley of Poison) and from here it is a steep climb of 4 km till Sandakphu. It is the steepest slope of the entire Singalila trek ridge and perhaps the most tiring one too but it is equally rewarding. The route passes through thick magnolia and rhododendron forest and it should take you 2-3 hours to reach Sandakphu (Height of the Poison Plant). The poisonous aconite plants are found in abundance in the region and said to have harmed cattle in the past, hence both Bikhebhanjang and Sandakphu have been named after it. You have a choice of lodges, guesthouses and trekkers hut or camping areas at Sandakphu.

5

Day 5 - Sandakphu - Rimbik Trek

Today will be the last day of your trek. Enroute you shall pass through quaint hamlets and their farmlands. After reaching Rimbik you could check into a hotel and take a leisure walks around the town in the evening. This extraordinary tale of your long journey to the ‘paradise of trekkers’ ends here. It is time to rejoice and celebrate with friends or locals in Rimbik. Overnight in Rimbik.

6

Day 6 - Rimbik to NJP/Bagdogra

Next day after a rested night and good lunch you could head to Darjeeling or Siliguri. Transfer to airport or railway station . Trip ends

Fixed Departures for 2018

Oct : 7th, 14th, 21st, 30th

Nov: 4th , 11th

INCLUDED

Accommodation in hotels on twin/triple sharing basis

Meals during trekking

Sanctuary and Park Entrance Fees

Activity point transfers

Airport transfers Bagdogra

Trekking guide

Home Stay during trekking.

LAFL Service Charges

NOT INCLUDED

All beverages (including bottled mineral water)

Transport from to Darjeeling and back

Camera fees

Meals apart from those during the trek

All insurance

All tips

Personal expenses

Personal medical requirements

All not mentioned in the ‘Included’ section

Please note that cancellation charges are calculated of the total amount payable and not of advance amount. If 100% of the amount is not paid while registering, the cancellation policy stands void.